A Work In Progress

I spent a couple of hours this past Monday visiting with Pastor Tom of First Christian Church here in Albuquerque.  It was a good meeting.  The topic was essentially about how to get me situated so that I could become a full-time missionary to the Philippines.  Now that doesn't mean that I would be in the Philippines full time, but that my efforts and "employment" would be focused full-time on the Philippines, regardless of where I was living.  Although we talked about a number of ways that I might be "organized", but the idea of forming a 501(c)3 non-profit was likely the best choice.  It would allow me to do things that would be more difficult if I was under the umbrella of the church itself.  It was noted that this process of forming a 501(c)3 might take some time . . . perhaps a year or more.

Now what I didn't really think about until after our meeting was that, I already am on the board of directors of an inactive non-profit.  I had been part of a homeschool education organization, which unfortunately had gained very little support or interest.  I contacted the other board members to discuss the status of the organization, and then offered a possible change in focus: to move from being an educational organization serving homeschool students to being an educational organization serving disadvantaged students (children) in the Philippines.  Although we still need to have a formal meeting regarding this change, the overall mood of the board is in favor of the changes.

So . . . now comes the task of coming up with a new name, a new mission statement, a new articles of incorporation and by-laws, and selecting new and/or additional members of the board of directors.  While that may seem a simple enough set of tasks, there is much more involved in those decisions then one might first think; it is really a very complicated and involved process, requiring a lot of thought and consideration.  That said . . . I'm looking forward to making it all happen, for as each task is completed it means that I am one step closer to working full time to support school children in the Philippines.  I will continue to post here as things develop.

I'm excited!

Oh . . . and I met with the church's mission committee . . . it's possible that my little mission may be the focus of this summer's Vacation Bible School mission project.  I have also been asked to present my work in the Philippines to one of the Sunday school classes . . . with prospects of having the class support one of my "projects" .

I love movement . . . especially when it's movement in the direction I want things to go!  The new momentum is encouraging.  Keep  me in your prayers.